M*A*N*G*O

Mango Season is finally here! My most favorite fruit of all time is the Mango. I can't get enough mangos. For the last month or so I have drooled while anxiously watching the mango trees around here bloom. It takes a while from the time the green little seedlings show up to the finished edible product, but the wait is well worth it. I remember the first time I tasted a mango, when I was seventeen and living in Australia. It was truly love at first bite.. hehe. No seriously the mango is like the forbidden fruit to me. After I returned to Alaska from Australia, I paid $4.99 for ONE mango just to get a taste of the tropical addiction. When Inoke and I were dating I used to beg him to bring me mangos home from the Fijian Village trees, and when we went to Fiji I made him drive a special trip to the little fruit stand to buy some Mangos just for me. I know every blooming mango tree in La'ie; but I am not a fruit stealer, I am just envious... So you can only imagine the excitement I had the other day when someone came into our office selling mango. I ordered a case for $10. I was expecting 8-10 mangos... he delivered the case yesterday with 25 mangos! So now I have mangos, mangos, and more mangos. There is no way I will finish them before they are too ripe so I have found recipes to make things. Yum. My favorites are Mango Chutney and Mango Sorbet. Here is a quick easy recipie for the sorbet just in case someone else shares my love.

Mango Lime Sorbet

Ingredients
· 1 cup sugar
· 1 cup water
· Zest from one lime
· 3 ripe mangos (about 2 1/2 pounds)
· 1/2 cup lime juice

Directions
1. Heat the sugar, water, and lime zest in a medium saucepan until the sugar has completely dissolved. Set aside to cool.
2. Cut the flesh from the mangoes.
3. Put the mango pieces, sugar water, and lime juice, into a blender. Blend until completely smooth. Pour into a medium bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until completely chilled.
4. When ready to put the chilled lime mango purée into your ice cream maker, mix. Process the mixture in your ice cream maker according to the ice cream maker directions.

Transfer mixture to a plastic storage container and freezer in your freezer until firm, at least 6 hours.

Makes almost 1 quart.

Missing Alaska

My sister Kirsten was up in Alaska the past week visiting friends and running in the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon. I am so proud of her for sticking to her goals. She started on this fitness quest nearly two years ago and it was her goal to run in the Mayor's Marathon. In the last year she moved all the way to "po dunk" North Dakota. She never gave up on her goals though and her husband even bought her a ticket "home" to Alaska so she could see it through. She is an inspiration to me and the definition of perseverance. She ran the 1/2 marathon on Saturday; not only finishing the race but coming in 93rd in her age group! Holy smokes. Go Kirsten!

While talking to my sister during the week I was reminded that this weekend was my favorite day of the year, Summer Solstice. Solstice just doesn't seem the same these days as it did growing up in Alaska. Back in Alaska Summer Solstice is a huge deal, it is the longest day of the entire year and the sun doesn't set, it just makes a circle on the horizon. It is truly an amazing sight to see. I almost found myself homesick in a sense for Alaska (and those of you who know me well; know that it is a rare occasion indeed if I am missing Alaska). I miss the never ending daylight, there is just something to be said about being able to sit on your deck and read a book without a light on at 1 am. I even had a crazy dream this weekend that we moved back to Alaska.. CRAZY. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Hawaii. I love the beach; distance and time does have a way of making you remember all the good times. I am sure if it was winter Alaska would be the last place on earth that I would want to be... but man there is nothing like the summers in Alaska. So here are a few pics of my homeland...

I miss the majestic snow capped mountains...

I miss the fire weed and all the beautiful vibrant wildflowers that grow for miles and miles.

I miss the quaint unique little buildings. Everything in Alaska has "character."

But then I remember that winter is NINE months of the year... and am brought back to reality.

Same Stuff Different Day...

Nothing new or exciting going on over here in Laie. Inoke is working lots and lots of extra shifts. He is a very hard working husband and I appreciate all that he brings to our relationship. We are saving up for our vacation in October to Fiji. I am SOOOO excited to go back to Fiji again. More to come on that later...

Funny for Monday...

Normally I try to avoid forwards but a friend forwarded this You-Tube clip to me and I couldn't stop laughing. I just have to think that I am just like this Bulgarian woman when I sit there in the car singing my heart out to Doki Doki. On more than one ocasion Inoke has asked me to repeat what I just sang and he has commented on my "unique fijian" words... Ahh if at first you don't succeed, try, try, again.

The only thing constant is change...

I figured I would take a moment to update all those who have left fair La'ie to greener pastures. Little La'ie has undergone some serious changes in recent times. A couple major things come to mind.

First:

After about a year of offering discounts to movie goers our own little Wallace Theaters closed. No warning, not so much as a good-bye. They were open one day and gone the next. (Very similar to ATA Airlines). Now I have to admit that I was one of those individuals who would rather drive the distance to Ko'olau Theaters for a more updated viewing experience. That is why it is rather ironic that I miss the little old theater with the well worn seats and the caving in leaky ceiling. One of those things that you don't miss until it is gone. It just seems a little bare in our shopping center with the recent changes. Since the beginning of this year DA Pharmacy, Dr. Tiberi, BSN Travel, and the Theater have all closed up shop. Some grass roots protesters have taken up the cause to try and keep Mickey's Motors open as it is next on the schedule to close. I guess it is just one more sign of tough times in Hawaii.

Second:

The next change of note came with the announcement that the long awaited and anticipated affordable housing project scheduled for Malekahana is no longer a viable option. For the full story click :

http://www.hawaiireserves.com/pdf/Malaekahana%20Project%20(3-6-08).pdf

and you can read up on it if you want to.

Or here is the nitty-gritty as reported by the Honolulu Advertiser; President Beaver was quoted as saying:

"Feasibility estimates pose an unacceptable risk at this time," Beaver said in the statement. "Cost of the entitlement process, current market and political conditions, moderate community support, and other nearby residential development plans were key factors in our decision to stop the project."

Personally, the announcement burst my bubble. I had been dreaming, planning, and saving so I too would be able to purchase a new home in the next few years. It now looks like this dream is not going to be a realization any time soon. I can't blame HRI for pulling out of the project. I know that HRI is a key organization to this community and that the focus and drive behind HRI's every action is to bring about positive change and assistance to the community. I have to agree with the statements made. The community members of La'ie need to go to their elected officials for assistance, instead of depending on the church for handouts. I realize this may not be a popular thought around this community and many would rather blame or point the finger to others instead of taking responsibility for their own actions but I may go off into a never ending diatribe if I continue on much more; so in the short version. No more affordable housing.

Third:

I am back on my soap box complaining about the cost of living in Hawaii, this complaint is only exacerbated by the announcement of my second topic. I realize the entire nation is affected by the price of oil. I just have to say that the price of power has been increased 43% by HECO in the last six months. AND I just got done filling up the car with gas at lunch today for $4.10/gallon.

So I realize everyone who has moved on to greener pastures in life may love to reminisce about the fun time it is to live in Hawaii... and I will be the first to admit it is fun times living in paradise. I just have to wonder at what point will the price be too great for us to stay???

Malasadas

For all you who read this blog and are missing Hawaii... here is a recipe I found for malasadas. The wagon is sitting out front my office this week in the shopping center parking lot. I have to say I really like malasadas, they are like sweet babakau (I have no idea how to spell that one). I especially like the custard filled ones. So if you are craving a taste of Hawaii, make a batch.

If you make this, you will rapidly become popular with all of your local friends. A non-traditional way of preparing this is to add nutmeg or cinnamon to the sugar mixture that is used to coat the maladsadas.

Ingredients:

1 package yeast (1 T)
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup warm water

6 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup melted butter or margarine
1 cup water
1 cup evaporated milk
6 eggs

1 quart vegetable oil (to cook)
extra sugar

Directions:

Dissolve yeast, sugar and water and set aside. Beat eggs. Measure flour into mixing bowl and add salt. Make a well in the flour, pour yeast mixture, eggs and other ingredients. Beat in circular motion until the dough is soft. Cover, let raise until double. Turn dough over but do not punch down. Cover and let raise again. Heat oil to 375 degrees and drop dough by teaspoon full into oil and cook until brown. Shake in brown bag with sugar. Best when hot.

Note: If the malasadas have a tendency to come out with the center still doughy, turn the heat down on the oil which will allow them to cook longer.

Never a dull moment...

Inoke and I have been married over six years already and it never ceases to amaze me how much I learn from Inoke. No this isn't going to be a sappy love post to my darling hubby, it is about how crazy it is to listen to Inoke's take on things verses mine. He always makes me laugh at his honest and at times totally off the wall opinions. Like for example this weekend we were blessed to be given some fresh fish. Inoke LOVES fish and I tolerate fish. Don't get me wrong I am an Alaskan girl after all, and if you have some nice salmon fillets or herb crusted halibut I will be the first to dive in. Inoke just loves FISH... the whole fish. His preferred preparation involves frying the entire fish skin and head and tail and all then adding coconut milk with sliced up onions and tomatoes. Then he is ready to fight for his favorite part of the fish... the head. Ugh. But anyways, I digress. So we got some fresh fish and Inoke tells me that we need to leave the fish out on the counter for a little bit before wrapping it and putting it in the fridge. I look at him with a quizzical look on my face and say "Why?" after all I was raised to put everything in the fridge immediately so bacteria and semolina and all those other horrible gross things don't begin to grow on food. He proceeds to explain to me that we should leave it out to see if flys are interested in the fish. Yes you read that right. Because after all if the fish is a good fish then flys will swarm around it and want to get in on the action. If the fish isn't good than the flys will leave it alone. My response was something along the lines of, um if a bunch of flys land on it I won't eat it anyways. Needless to say I washed dried and put the fish away without testing it, so we will just have to take our chances.

Which brings me to the second half of my story. This weekend was absolutely beautiful. The sun was shining, the water was blue, and the trades finally came back. We took advantage of the weather and went swimming. I have to admit I love the beach, but I really love the pool. I mean the sand just gets EVERYWHERE and I hate that sticky dried salt on my skin feeling. Of course Inoke loves the ocean. It was a minor miracle to get him to agree to go swimming with me during the sunny daylight hours, he usually will only go in the evening or when it is raining. I go to the beach to add some color to this fairy white princess look that I seem to be sporting lately; he on the other hand avoids the sunlight at all costs, he might get darker... heaven forbid. So we made it to the beach and Inoke and Rio immediately begin smoothing sand all over their bodies... ick! I asked what they were doing, and how in the world they could stand to have sand EVERYWHERE? Inoke again has another outlook, he told me that it was a Fijian Spa Treatment, I mean after all I do use a loofa and I love my puff. I guess in theory it makes sense. So they really enjoyed scrubbing down in with the sand, and I have to admit Inoke's skin was very soft after. It just makes me laugh, I spend plenty money going to get my pedicures and buying fancy bath scrubs; while my sweet Inoke uses some sand and accomplishes the same if not better results.

Here are Inoke and Rio. They opted for the "Botanical Skin Resurfacing" a natural approach to microdermabrasion... a treatment that will leave the skin with visable improvement and radiance.

Here they are again. Step two of the process wash all that sand off. Doesn't the water look so BLUE!

I even gave it a try... well not the whole body exfoliation (baby steps here) I went for the all natural sand pediucure. Let me say my feet are pretty soft after walking on the beach for a while.

So that is why I never have a dull moment with Inoke. He always makes me laugh and teaches me that there are other opinions or ways to do things besides my own.

Oh and here is our "home" yes this is about all we can afford on the Island of Oahu right now with the median home prices currently set at $635.000.00. But hey Location, Location, Location, right?